It could be a gas station or a convenience store or a restaurant or a self-storage warehouse or a combination of the four. A proposal for commercial development on the northwest corner of Senoia Road and Rockwood Road presented Dec. 27 to Tyrone Planning Commission was withdrawn until a revised proposal can be made.

The Shamrock Station proposal submitted by Howard Guthrie would have all four businesses operate at the 3.1-acre site but required a special exception to the current M-1 zoning. Explaining the specifics of the ordinance pertaining to the request, town consultant Megan Will said restaurants are not a permitted use in the M-1 district, though they would be permitted as a accessory use. Citing an example of the dilemma, Will said if the special exception for the gas station and convenience store was granted the restaurant would also be permissible as an accessory use. Will continued, noting that retail sales are not customarily permitted in an M-1 district and that self-storage warehouses are only permitted by special exception.

Commissioners David Nebergall and Chairman Ginger Blackstone complimented the plans for the development but questioned some of the specifics of the special exception request.

During the presentation, Guthrie told commissioners the development was not intended to be a truck stop.

“It’s a heavy industrial area with a commercial corner,” he said.

Will suggested that commissioners consider one of two recommendations. In the first, she recommended approval of the special exception for the gas station with the convenience store.

“It should be noted that if approval is given, the proposed restaurant use will be allowable as an accessory use. This approval does not address and in no way should be construed to extend to the proposed retail use. The self-storage warehouse use also requires a special exception application,” she said.

An alternative recommendation, one that Will said was equally valid, would be to deny the special exception and encourage the applicant to apply for rezoning under the C-3 category.

“This would be consistent with the town’s adopted Future Land Use map, and under the C-3 classification retail sales, general restaurants and gas stations with convenience stores are permitted uses. However, self-storage warehouses are not permitted in the C-3 district,” Will said.

After the discussion, Guthrie asked to withdraw the request and to return at a later date with a request to pursue either M-1 or C-3 zoning. Commissioners granted his request.

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